There is no real excuse for why I haven't been updating this. Neglected it in favor of other things like video games and sleeping. In fact, I have even more of a reason now for why I shouldn't be updating this (college work is a bitch), but I'm fed up with not having updated when I had an opportunity so now I'm doing it while I have this chance between classes to do so (instead of working on a craptastic art project that I'm struggling with).

For those who have been reading and anticipating an update, my sincerest apologies, and I hope beyond hope that I can get back to updating this on a regular basis, even though I'm a bit short of time these days. I have a lot of stories on backup that I want to finally get on here, but I want to focus on this one from start to finish before I start on another major project. The other fanfics I put on recently are mostly random drabbles to get my writer's mind going again, having been in hibernation for a while.

So, here's chapter 7


Isis groaned and rolled over in her sleep. As her face was met by the warm sunlight coming in through the window, she stirred from her sleep, uttering another groan in protest to the brightness. She turned over again, and lifted the covers over her eyes, hoping to fall back into blissful slumber. Unfortunately, a knock at the door to her chambers prevented such a wish to come to her. Sighing, she rose from her bed, and blindly grabbed for the robe she had discarded on the floor before going to sleep last night. When her fingers brushed against fabric, she grabbed the robe and quickly wrapped it around her before another knock was heard.

"Yes, I'm coming!" she yelled, rushing to her door. Whoever it was, even if it was Mahad, they were going to get an earful! She pulled the door open, not before making sure it would be more than obvious she was irritated. Her father stood before her, one of his signature smirks plastered on his face and a rose in his hand.

"Good morning, dearest." He said happily, ignoring the unpleased look on his daughter's face.

"Maybe for you." she mumbled, but stood aside to let him in nonetheless. He sauntered in and sat down on the couch, laying the flower on the table in front of it. Isis's eyes were drawn to it immediately, recalling the events of last month. Since the incident with the bloody flower, she had stopped keeping them in her room, though they still arrived every day, and with no other unwanted surprises. But she no longer felt comfortable keeping them, as they only served as a bitter reminder to her about what happened. How she had been led to believe Mahad had been involved in murder. How they had fought, how she had hurt him and how he had forgiven her when she did not deserve his forgiveness. In spite of that, she was still glad that she had restored faith in him, and that he still cared for her. But even though they had been able to make up and remain close through that hard time, she no longer accepted the flowers he left for her.

Seth noticed his daughter's eyes focus on the flower and gave a knowing smile. "A gift from your lover, I assume. It was left on your doorstep." he stated.

"I'm aware." she said stiffly.

The smile on her father's face instantly dropped at hearing the tension in her voice, and he shook his head with a sigh. "Where you get that serious attitude from, I will never know."

Isis narrowed her eyes slightly and stuck her nose up a little, not appreciating being patronized like this. "Is there a reason you came here so early, father? I was still sleeping before you came."

Seth returned his gaze to his daughter. "All fun set aside, yes, I did come to tell you some important news."

"Is it about the Millennium Necklace?"

The older man smiled. "You have your mother's talent, alright."

"That was just a hunch; and a very easy one at that." she replied.

"Be that as it may, you still have been blessed with the gift that gave your mother her place as one of the Pharaoh's sacred guardians." he said. "And now you are following in her place. The Pharaoh has decided that you should be the next priestess of the Millennium Necklace. Congratulations, dearest; I can't tell you how happy I am for you."

Isis sighed. "So it is official? No more debating?"

Seth shook his head. "The guardians gave their final word on the matter last night, and the Pharaoh made the final decision."

"Why was I chosen over Yamaht?" she asked out of curiosity.

"Besides your relationship to the previous owner of the Necklace, you have some of your mother's natural ability of precognition, as I stated previously, you were trained for the position of a priestess, even if it wasn't for the Necklace. And... the court has had some... difficulties with Yamaht, I must confess."

"What sort of difficulties?" Isis reluctantly asked.

"Well, ah... believe it or not, she has been hinting at the court to let you take the Millennium Necklace, but keep her at the palace."

"She WHAT?!" Isis exclaimed.

"Yes, actually; when she told me to convince the Pharaoh that you should be your mother's successor at all costs, I thought it was her idea of a joke... until she got down on her knees and started begging me to not let her become part of the court. Not to mention Karim told me she had asked him if Priests were allowed to use the Royal Family's escape route out of the palace... and that some guards had caught her trying to sneak out of the palace..."

Isis had stopped listening at this point to her father's story, and was making plans to find Yamaht.

Q.N.

"What in Ra's name were you doing?! Telling my father and the other priests to not accept you as the priestess of the Millennium Necklace! Do you have any idea how much I have been...!"

Isis was not able to get anymore in as Yamaht had run up to her and embraced her in a bone-crushing hug, squealing at the top of her breath. They caught the attention of many of the servants and passersby in the corridor, though Yamaht didn't seem to care. Isis, on the other hand, was trying desperately to push the ecstatic young woman off of her.

"Have you gone insane?!" she exclaimed. "I'll have you know I...!"

"I heard everything; you're going to be accepted as the court's next priestess! Oh, I cannot thank you enough!" Yamaht screamed, letting go of Isis immediately. "I could kiss you right now, Isis!"

"Please don't!" Isis said quickly, paling at the suggestion.

"This is going to get him right where it hurts! His pride is about to be shattered into a million tiny pieces and crushed into a fine powder!"

"Who are you talking about?"

"My father, of course, dear! Oh, he's going to protest completely, but there is absolutely nothing that he can do about it, because the Pharaoh, bless his heart, has made his final decision! ALL HAIL THE PHARAOH!"

"Your fa...?" All at once, it clicked what Yamaht had done, and Isis's eyes widened at the realization. "Are you telling me you've been going around and convincing the priests that you are not suitable to be a priestess... just to humiliate your father?! That's the most ridicul...!"

"I'd like to see him use me like that again! That will teach him for telling me what to do, trying to marry me off to suitors, and especially for keeping me locked up in the palace this whole time! If this won't hurt his ego, I don't know what will!"

"Do you have any idea how much I have been dreading being given this title?! I can't be a priestess!" Isis yelled as loud as she could.

Yamaht did not seemed fazed by this at all. She even slung an arm around Isis's shoulder "Don't fret, Isis! If anyone knows you're worthy, it's your best friend. Do you think I would have gone through with this if I did not have the utmost faith in your abilities? Of course not! Because I love you like the sister I never had!"

"I could strangle you right now; you have the most warped sense of reality I have ever...!" Isis began to rant.

"Be that as it may, she is not as free as she would choose to be, Sisi."

Both the young women looked to the side to see Nephthys sitting against the wall flipping through a book, her feline friend napping beside her.

Yamaht raised an eyebrow at the younger girl. "And what does that mean, little girl?"

Nephthys smiled. "No one is going to say anything on the matter, but you never had a chance of being priestess to begin with. You do not have the bloodline on your side, nor the precognitive powers, or even the judgment and ingenuity to truly take such a position of such magnitude. The only reason you were taken as an apprentice to Lady Nephthys was because your father holds minor authority in the government. Very minor authority I should say."

Though anyone else could easily see this as an insult, Yamaht merely smiled and strengthened her grip on Isis. "Exactly right, dear." she agreed. "Isis has deserved this right from the start; just like I told the other priests!"

"The meetings held by the Sacred Guardians have been more to discuss what to do about your position in the palace. After all, even with your father's money and persuasion, the pharaoh couldn't possibly allow you to stay at the palace without earning your keep." Nephthys continued with a slight nod in consideration.

Yamaht nodded as well, "I hardly see that as a problem."

"I just hope your father agrees. I believe that the Priests came up with a very comfortable arrangement for you, personally. The Pharaoh plans on discussing it with him today when he comes to the palace."

"Well I'm certain that he will...!" Yamaht's face suddenly dropped, and her eye began to twitch erratically. "What...did you... say?"

"About your father, you mean?" Nephthys asked innocently. "Why, he was invited to the palace today to discuss your new arrangements. I believe Father said that if arrangements cannot be made, you are to return to your home tonight with your father." Yamaht paled, and the arm placed around Isis's shoulders went limp instantly.

"You're saying that my father is... here? In the palace? Now!?" she shrieked.

Nephthys only calmly nodded.

Yamaht laughed a little weakly, before backing away from the two of them and quickly looking around the corridor. Her face had returned to a composed appearance, but her voice failed to follow, as did her shaking body.

"Heh... heh heh... If you ladies would excuse me now. I need to... run. No! Hide! No! Leave the palace! Nowhere is safe!" Before she could finish her sentence, she turned and took off down the corridor, trailed by the nervous and confused eyes of the servants.

When she was out of sight, Isis turned to Nephty and sighed a breath of relief. She gave the young girl a weary smile and sat down next to her, taking the opposite side of Pharaoh. "Thanks for that, Nephty." she said.

"For what?" she asked, though a smile was clear on her face. "It was just something I thought she would like to know. I was also going to say she wasn't very smart, but that would have been rude."

"That is true," Isis agreed, "But it would have been true as well."

"What I never understood about Yamaht is why she always tries to go against her father." Nephty stated, furrowing her brows. "She should want to do anything to make him happy."

Isis smiled. "Not everyone has a father as wonderful as yours, Nephthys." she stated, thinking of her own father, and some of the less-than-wise choices he had made over the years. "And not everyone is as loving and loyal to their families as you."

Nephty hummed in response and returned her attention back to her book. "You will be a wonderful priestess." She stated.

"But how can you be sure?" Isis asked.

"I'm not sure." Nephty said. "It isn't my place to tell you that; you should seek council with the gods. They know you are the correct choice to carry the Millennium Necklace."

Isis nodded. "I have taken council with the gods many times over the last few days, Nephty." After her first meeting with the Messenger of Osiris, she had kept her word to him and had not mentioned to anyone about their meetings, or the location of the hidden shrine in the Temple. She came nearly every day, and he was always there to greet her each time. She had mentioned her concerns to him regarding her position of priestess, and he had told her multiple times that whomever the responsibility of the Necklace falls to will be the will of the gods, so she had nothing to fear. If she was to be chosen, she would make a fine guardian. His words had truly soothed her, but the apprehension never ceased. What had changed was that some of the fear of being selected had turned into excitement for what could come of such a title, how it could possibly bring her closer to Mahad, who would take his master's place as the guardian of the Millennium Ring, and maybe bring her closer to her mother, who had been the original owner of the Necklace. Perhaps she would even be able to be a good advisor to the Pharaoh, and then to Prince Atem when he took his father's place. Suddenly she had not been as scared, and it was a feeling that no one else had been able to instill in her. "They have assuaged some of my anxieties, but I suppose it is still natural to feel some doubt."

"I have a bad feeling about that place, Sisi."

Isis turned her head to Nephthys, and was surprised to see how her brows were furrowed in worry, and that some of the light in her eyes had disappeared. It was as though Nephthys was a completely different person.

"What place, Nephty?" Isis asked.

"That hidden passage in the fountain room to the very back of the temple. The one hidden behind a statue." Isis's eyes widened. She had never mentioned it to Nephthys; how could she have known?! "I came across it myself a few years ago while exploring the temple with Father. Pharaoh ran away and I followed him to the secret passage. It was empty back then; there was nothing inside. Now it has recently become inhabited by something unhuman."

Isis shivered at the description. It was exactly as she had remembered it, as though Nephthys was reading her mind. She may well have been.

"He is a spirit of sorts. I have heard him singing his songs sometimes in the Temple, but never once have I seen or spoke to him. If he has made himself known to you, Sisi, then he must favor you." Nephthys closed her book and stood up. Pharaoh picked up on her movements instantly, waking from his cat nap and stretching next to his owner.

"What does that mean, Nephty?" Isis asked as she stood up as well. Nephty began to walk away, Pharaoh sauntering alongside her. "Nephthys?"

Nephthys stopped. "There is a bridge made of reeds. It is weak, but is able to carry one person across. Where it goes is unknown. Perhaps it leads to paradise, but if one feels so bold as to take the risk, they must accept wherever it leads, for once it is crossed, there is no going back."

"What would you choose?" Isis asked.

Nephthys turned and smiled. "I would find the person who built the bridge and ask where it leads. After all, a bridge has to be built on two sides, so at least one of the two people who built it is bound to know where it leads."

Isis tilted her head in thought. "True enough; but why would anyone build a bridge to somewhere that was not safe?"

"Because the people who follow that logic won't know the difference." Nephthys said quietly. It seemed that she had no more to say on the matter, because she started walking away again, her cat following behind.

Isis cringed. Though a small part of her wished to deny the truth in Nephthys's words, she knew that there was too much sense to what she had said. Everything in life came with some consequence, something gained and something lost. Some things held much greater consequence than others. Whether one was willing to take responsibility for their actions and decisions was where the greatest consequence lay.

While this piece of advice was sound, Isis did not understand how it was connected to her discovery of the secret room, or her conversations with the Messenger of Osiris. He had been a faithful friend and advisor to her since they had first begun to converse. He had assuaged her greater fears of becoming a priestess, had told her stories and taught her about things she had never known. He listened to her when she told him of her own life, about her father and her friends in the palace; when she told him about Mahad. He even told her about how her mother was at peace in the Afterlife, happily awaiting to reunite with her when it was her time. For that she would be eternally grateful, knowing that her mother was in the arms of the gods, being able to know every day that she was happy and content. Surely Nephthys could not feel that the Messenger was a disturbance. Isis was more than certain that the young child could sense his presence in the Temple, perhaps she had even had the pleasure of communing with him as well. She must be sensing a different aura in that room. Perhaps she might even be mistaken about where in the Temple such a negative energy could come from. Isis was certain of this. Besides that, if there was something wicked lurking in the shadows, would Isis not have also been able to sense it? Had her intuition ever led her astray before? Of course not. Nephthys had to have been mistaken!

Still...

Isis shook her head quickly, expelling that nagging voice in the back of her mind. She wouldn't dwell on such a thing any longer, not while she had more pressing matters to attend to. For whether she approved or not, what her father had said was set in stone. There was no more debating, no more waiting; she was now the new high priestess in Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen's court. Well... that wasn't entirely true either. She still had to go through the ceremony that would initiate her into the Sacred Court, eternally binding her in service to Egypt's royal family, and as such making her responsible for the Millennium Necklace. Her father had told her that this ceremony would take place within the next three days, giving the other members of the court ample time to prepare the temple for the ceremony. Not to mention the celebration afterward in her honor, another tradition she could do without.

She sighed; three days wouldn't be enough time for her.

Three years wouldn't be enough time!

Her thoughts were pushed aside as a hand rested on her shoulder. Startled, she gasped and quickly turned, only to find Mahad smiling at her.

"Yamaht told me I would find you around here." he stated.

"Is that so." Isis asked shakily, still a bit surprised by his sudden presence. Mahad caught this, and quickly looked her over. He noticed how her skin seemed more pale and her hands were twitching ever so slightly. He frowned; had he scared her that badly?

"Are you alright, Isis?"

What did he mean by that, she wondered. Was it her reaction? Or did her anxiety show more than she thought?

"Y-you just startled me a bit, Mahad. Forgive me, I didn't mean to worry you." she quickly replied. "I was just deep in thought."

"'A bit'?" he asked, bringing his face a bit closer to hers. She instantly felt her face heat up. "Are you sure about that? You look so pale today."

She shook her head, but gave him a small smile as a way of reassurance. "Just had to think about some unpleasant topics, that's all, really."

"The necklace?"

She nodded. "Were you informed by anyone? Father gave me the news this morning."

"You were selected because Yamaht is losing her mind." Mahad said jokingly. "My master informed me last night of the decision. I would have told you myself, but I had thought it be best if your father gave you the good news."

Isis gave him an aside look. "Afraid of how I would react, were you?" she asked dryly.

He laughed at this. "O-of course not, dear. I just knew that if I told you about it last night, you never would have been able to sleep."

Isis scoffed, only half amused by this response. "Well, how noble of you, Mahad!" she chuckled.

Although her tone was light, Mahad could still hear the slightest hint of frustration. He knew better than anyone else how she had been dreading inheriting her mother's position. Still, she had seemed to have warmed up to the idea over the past month; he had hoped that she would have overcome all of her anxieties by now.

"Are you upset?" he asked softly.

Isis closed her eyes and sighed. "Yes; but not at you. Partly with Yamaht, for having this senseless ambition to rebel against her father at every possible instant, but mostly with this entire situation. I still do not feel fully prepared to take on such a demanding responsibility. Three days isn't nearly enough time to prepare."

Mahad chuckled a little. "I do not think it's possible for anyone to ever be fully prepared for anything." he said. Isis certainly couldn't deny the truth in those words. "But if it means anything to you, I think you can come close if you really desire to."

She smiled at him. "Of course you would say that. You want to make me happy."

"Is it working?" he asked hopefully.

Isis laughed at his expectant tone, like a child eagerly awaiting a new toy. "No." she said with a shrug of her shoulders. His face dropped instantly, but before he could protest, she laughed lightly, "But if it means anything to you, I think you came close."

She leaned closer to him and kissed him on the cheek, finalizing her argument on the matter. So Mahad decided not to mention another word on the matter, instead taking that moment to put his arm around her waist and begin a conversation with her about his magic training. She listened intently, letting the worries that plagued her mind seconds ago to slip away with each word that rolled off the young man's tongue. After a while, they came to one of the courtyards, where he demonstrated some of his spells for her as she looked on in awe. He had come so far recently, she could even sense his newfound control, confidence and power, emulating through his entire being each time he uttered an incantation, causing sparks to fly, water to flow in midair, fire to burst into existence without burning the greenery in the courtyard. Never once was she scared, and she noticed that he never was either. All she saw was that charming, radiant smile appear on his face, showing how happy and proud he was that he could make her laugh, smile, shiver, tense, and jump all at once. Because she needed this now, to relax her, to remind her that her future position of priestess was not something that needed to be feared. Rather, it was a wonderful opportunity for her that could bring about so many more wonderful experiences, without keeping her from others she may think she could never have. They could still have each other, she did not need to fear losing him. No matter what, he would stay by her side, helping her in every way he could. He would make her happy, now and forever.

Q.N.

They entered Isis's bedchambers later in the evening after supper. After Isis opened the door, Mahad had picked her up in his arms, carrying her in and spinning her around as she laughed hysterically.

"Mahad!" she squealed in delight. "What are you doing?!"

"You need some cheering up again!" He stated. "I could have killed the entire court, the way they were treating you at dinner."

"Don't get any ideas!" she snapped in good humor, gently pushing at his shoulders to tell him she wanted to be put down. He obliged with only a cheeky grin as his argument. "They were only congratulating me!"

"You mean bombarding you! It was as if you were the first woman to ever become a priestess."

"It wasn't so bad..."

"Says the woman who looked like a caged animal."

"I did not!"

"How could you possibly know?" he asked, raising a brow.

"...shut up, you fool." she replied as he laughed.

"Ah, young love!"

The two young lovers turned beyond flustered faces to the other end of the room, where Isis's father stood with that knowing gleam in his eyes. They quickly took a giant step away from each other, blushing madly. Isis gave her father a scolding glare, while Mahad looked as though he were about to get the beating of a lifetime.

"M-M-M-Master Seth!" he stammered before quickly bowing his head. "M-my apologies, sir! If I had known you would be... not to say I would have done anything if you were not... it's not like it looks!" he managed to get out, only causing him to blush more.

But Master Seth seemed nothing less than amused. "Oh? And just what were you not planning on doing with my daughter, Mahad?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

By this point, both Isis and Mahad were red as tomatoes. "Father!" Isis scolded, covering her face in embarrassment. Seth burst out laughing as he stared between his daughter and her lover, who looked completely petrified at this point.

"Oh no, it looks like I've broken him." he said, continuing to laugh. His good humor seemed to calm the couple down a bit, but they were still blushing, both too flustered to make eye contact. This did not escape the priest of the Millennium Rod's notice. "Come now, you two. There's nothing to be embarrassed about!"

"Y-yes, sir." Mahad said meekly. Isis nodded, and glanced over at Mahad with a smile.

Her father smiled as well. "The two of you are perfect together." he stated, no sarcasm apparent in his voice. "It's easy enough to see how much you love one another."

"Thank you, father." Isis said, taking Mahad's hand and smiling. He smiled back at her. Seth, however, did not smile at the happy moment between the two, aware of what he had to say next. It broke his heart to do this to his daughter, but what choice did he have? Even if he ignored the Pharaoh's orders, which he had already done too many a times to count, they would still find out. And he knew Mahad well enough to know that he would not ignore his duty to the pharaoh, even if it meant he would have to leave Isis.

"And it pains me to have to be the one to tell you this," he continued slowly, "But you would find out soon enough regardless."

Isis and Mahad exchanged worried glances, both having an idea of what was happening, but terrified that they were right. "Father, what is going on?" Isis asked.

Seth sighed, and faced his daughter, his expression not betraying his seriousness. "We are going to war with the Libyans." he said. "There is no way around it. The Pharaoh has tried to negotiate with their king's representatives, but they are insistent on their goal to take the Millennium Items for themselves."

"No." Isis whispered, eyes wide and body shaking. "No, please."

Seth looked her in the eyes, and in doing so nearly jumped out of the balcony in guilt. "I'm sorry, Isis. I will have to go in the Pharaoh's place, as will you," He locked eyes with Mahad, who looked just as shaken as Isis, though seemed to be more in control of his fear. "For your master."

"Please, please tell me this isn't true!" Isis exclaimed, the tears welling in her eyes. "Father, please tell me he doesn't have to go; not now!"

Still he kept his composure. "We are to leave within five days, in order to honor your initiation to priestess."

"I don't want to be the priestess!" she screamed. "I don't care about the Necklace or the title or any of it! I will give it up if it means that you will stay!"

"Isis..." Mahad stepped in front of her, laying his hands on her shoulders in comfort.

She glared at him, tears falling down her eyes. "You won't leave me, will you?! You won't keep me here while you go off to die!"

A long silence fell over the room, only her sobs breaking the uncomfortable stillness. He gazed into her eyes, trying to find some way to give her solace, but could find none. None that he could apply to, anyway. He did not want to leave her anymore than she did, but he would not stay, could not stay. He had a duty. To his Pharaoh, to his teacher, to Egypt, and with such a burden on his shoulders, he and Isis would have to be put second. It was cruel, and he was well aware of this, but there was no alternative. She knew this as well, which was why she protested it so.

"...I'm sorry." he finally said, watching in grief as his lover broke down in front of him. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. It is for everyone's benefit."

Isis shook her head in disbelief, "How can you say that?" she whispered. "Does your life not matter? Do I not matter?"

"You mean more to me than I could ever tell you." he said, taking her in his arms. "Which is exactly why I must go. If they are after the Millennium Items, then once you are initiated, that will make you a target. Knowing that, how could I even think about staying?"

"No." she muttered against his chest, her sobs turning to powerful torrents. "Please, no."

"I will not die." He told her, all the while praying that he could keep such a promise. "My magic will protect me from harm, so I will return to you. You have nothing to fear."

Yet she took no comfort in his words. He could have been immortal, and she would still be inconsolable. He was powerful, and he had grown more powerful still, but what good could that do with a sword cutting through him?

How could she live with it if he returned to her in a mess of blood and limbs?


I don't like this chapter. I'm just putting it out there. It's like a giant fruit basket full of assorted garbage, but at least it helps along the transition to the next chapter. I've edited this probably four times or something, and it never got any better, so all I can say is it helps the actual story between Isis and the Messenger get started.

For reading this up to this point, you deserve a fruit basket with real fruit and cookies and pie, but I'm sorry I can't really do that right now. I'm sure the next chapter will come to me so much easier, but for now I have to leave you with this. Reviews would be appreciated, if for no other reason than to give me some semblance of comfort, but as long as someone reads it, that's enough for me.

R&R at your leisure.